Wildcats “Berry” the Hoosiers 

By Nick Jenkinson/Excel H Sports

    The Northwestern Wildcats beat the Indiana Hoosiers 79-70 in Welsh-Ryan Arena Wednesday Night as Northwestern has won five straight over the Hoosiers as Mike Woodson has yet to beat Northwestern as Indiana Head Coach. It’s the first time that Wildcats have beaten the Hoosiers five time since 1915 when Northwestern won five straight from 1913-15. Indiana leads the series 120-57 and 49-38 all-time in Evanston as Northwestern has beaten Indiana three straight times in Evanston and six of the last seven meetings in the series.

    Indiana is 14-6 overall and 5-4 in the Big Ten and this is first time this season that Indiana did not lose by double-digits. Mackenzie Mgbako scored 20 points to lead the Hoosiers. Oumar Ballo scored 15 points and pulled down 7 rebounds along with 7 assists. Luke Goode scored 14 points and drilled 4 three pointers. Myles Rice added 14 points. The Hoosiers were 24-57 for 42%, 9-20 from three-point range for 45% and 13-17 from the free throw line for 76%. Indiana pulled down 34 rebounds, dished out 17 assists, 7 steals, 3 blocks and committed 17 turnovers.

    Northwestern improves to 12-7 overall and 3-5 in the Big Ten. Ty Berry scored 23 points off the bench hitting 7 three pointers to lead the Wildcats. Brooks Barnhizer added 21 points as the two scored a combined 44 points. Barnhizer added 8 rebounds, 6 assists and 6 steals. Nick Martinelli scored 18 points and Jalen Leach added 15. Northwestern finished 28-58 from the field for 48%, 13-27 from three-point range for 48% and 10-17 from the free throw line for 58%. The Wildcats pulled down 30 rebounds, dished out 18 assists, 11 steals, 6 blocks and committed 11 turnovers.

    Indiana led 31-25 at halftime but the Wildcats outscored the Hoosiers 54-39 in the second half. Indiana trailed 70-56 with 3:12 left as the Hoosiers got within four points 72-68 with 44 seconds left and Northwestern finished the game outscoring Indiana 7-2 and closed the game on a 21-4 run. Indiana will host Maryland on Sunday at Noon. Malik Reneau returned from a knee injury he suffered 30 seconds into the Rutgers game on January 2, The Junior from Miami played 11 minutes scoring 2 points and pulled down 3 rebounds. Indiana was coming off an overtime win at Ohio State as the Hoosiers have dropped three of their last four games and have a tough schedule ahead with plenty of opportunity for quad 1 wins but if the Hoosiers do not get enough wins there is a good chance that they will miss the NCAA Tournament for the second straight season.